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Oct. 16, 1923.

G. J. MEUER ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April l, 1921 l @who/tf @my a im auw Patented Oct. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

GEORGE J'. METIER, OF MILWAUKEE, IVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. CO., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led April 1,

To all VQc/lzom t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE J. MEIJER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, rei'crence being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to electric snap switches.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, positive and durable snap switch mechanism for use in pendent switches, lampl sockets, etc.

Another object is to provide such switch mechanism of the push button type and particularly adapted for mounting in a molded or other insulating casing divided in a plane at right angles to the axis of the actuating member.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a preferred form of the invention which will now be described, it being understood that the embodiment illustrated is susceptible of various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing, o

Fig. 1 is a view of a switch with a section of its casing removed and with parts of its mechanism shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view ot the other section of the casina;

, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the switch with its casing sections assembled; y

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4: or Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the movable contactor of the switch mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the fram of the switch mechanism.

. The switch shown is of the pendent type, comprising a molded casing formed of sections 1 and 2, contacts 3 and 4 fixed to section 1 of the casing and a movable contactor 5 to bridge said contacts. r

Thecontactor 5 as best illustrated in Fig.

1921. Serial No. 457,803.

6 comprises an integral stamping formed to provide parallel contactblades 7 and a connecting portion 8 having-a part 9 thereof bent inwardly between the contact blades to lend rigidity to the contactor and to provide for attachment thereto of a spring hereinafter described. The contact blades 7 have their lower extremities provided with notches 10 for pivotal mounting of said contactor on a support 11 best illustrated in Fig. 7. This support comprises a stamping bent into U shape form, the base of said support being provided with laterally projecting lugs 12 forming with the notched extremities of the contactors an open pivotal bearing for said contactor. The lugs 12 are preferably located midway between the upstanding end portions of the frame 11, said end portions of the frame forming stops for limiting the throw of the contactor in both directions. Also the base of the frame is provided with a slot 14 to receive a rectilinearly movable bar 15 provided at its opposite ends with push buttons 16 and 17. The bar 15 fits edgewise into the slot 111 and into notches 1S provided in the upstanding end portions of the frame and is retained in the open slide bearing thus provided by a helical tension spring 19 having one end hooked to said bar and having its opposite end hooked to the part 9 of the contactor. The relation of parts is such that reciprocation of the bar throws the attached end of the spring 19 across the axis of the contactor thus tending to impart a snap movement to the latter in a manner well understoodin the art, said bar being cut away adjacent the spring t0 permit the latter to freely assume different angular positions relative thereto.

Further the switch mechanism includes a. member 20 supported by and between the end portions of the frame 11, said member having an offset portion 21 disposed in the path of spring 19. The portion 21 is so located as to be engaged by the spring as it approaches the positions in which it tends to effect snap movement of the contactor and said portion 21 functionsto delay further movement ot the engaged coils of the spring until the lower end of said spring has been moved across the axis of the contaeter thereby distorting the longitudinal axis of said spring during critical move:

ment yof bar 15. On the other hand the portion 21 is so formed as to permit the spring'when so tensioned to snap free therefrom for actuation of the contactor in opposite directions according to the direction of movement of the bar 15. Y apparent, therswitch ispositively held closed or open by the spring until the latter is tensioned to a greater degree than would otherwise occur and until the elements assume a relation insuring against hesitation .of the spring to actuate the contact or when said springr disengages the portion 121.

The frame 11 asbest shown in Fig. 3 is secured tosection 1 of thecasing by a screw 22 threading into an orifice 23 provided in an end portion of the frame', the sections 1 and 2 of the frame beingrespectively provided with passages 24 and 25 for the push button extremities of the bar 15. The supporting frame is so locatedl that the contactor in one extreme position 'engages both stationary contacts 3 and 4 to electrically connectthe same and in its opposite extreme position to disengage both contacts and as will be apparent the arrangement is such as to provide for a wide break between the contactorand stationary contacts.

The `stationary contacts preferably comprise two blades each, to receive the blades of the contactor as shown in Fig. 1, said stationary contactshaving terminal plates 26 and 27 preferably arranged as shown in Fig; 1. Thus the assembly of elements cnables section 2 of the casing to be readily removed to give access to the switch mecha* nism for Wiring thereof after which the tion 2 may be replaced and secured to section l asby a bolt 28 passing through both sections and between the stationary contacts.

What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, in combination, a frame, a contactor, an operating member for said contactor, said frame and contactor having engaging parts providing an open pivotal bearing for the latter, and said trame and operating member having engaging partsproviding an open slide bearing for the latter and a spring connecting said contaetorV and said operating member to retain both in engagement with said trame and to actuate-said*contactor withV a snap action upon -reciprocation of said member;

2'. In an electric switch, in combination, a frame, an oscillatable contactor and a reciprocable operating member having opposed open bearings on said fra-me and a tension yspring connecting 4said contactor and said operating member to retain both in position on said frame and to oscillate said contaetorwifth 4a snap action upon reciprocation `of -said operating member,

"3. In-an-electic-1switeh, in combination,

Thus as will beoperating an oscillatable contactor, a U-shaped frame to receive'said contactonsaid contactor and frame having engaging parts forming an open pivotal bearing for the latter and the end portions of said frame forming stops to limit the oscillatory movement of said (Sontactor, an operating member lforsaid contactor having an open slide bearing on said frame and a tension spring connecting said contactor and said operatingr member to retain bothV in position on said frame and to oscillate said contactor with a snap action upon reciprocation of said operating member.

4. In an electric switch, in combination, a contactor comprising spaced parallel blades, a traine having parts engaging said blades to provide an open pivotal bearing for said contactor, a helical tension lspring connected to said contactor between the blades thereof and extending through said frame and a .reciprocating operating member for said contactor to which said spring is also connected for retaining said contactor in positionon said trame and for retaining said operating member in sliding engagement with said frame, said spring acting yupon reciprocation of said operating member to oscillate said contactor with a snap action.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a U-shaped frame, a contactor having spaced parallel bladesengaging with said frame to form an open pivotal bearing for oscill`ation .of said contactor through a range limited by the end portions of said frame, an operating bar for said contactor vto be received edgewise in a slot provided in the base of said frame between the blades of vsaid contactor and a tension spring disposed ybetween th'e blades of said contactor and connected to `said .contactor and said operatin member to retain both in position on sai frame and to oscillate said contactor with a snap action upon reeiprocation of said operating member.

6. In .an electric switch, Yin combination, co-operating contacts 'includingan oscillating contactor, a rectilinearly movable .0perating member for said contactor,y a helical spring connecting said contactor andoperating member to effect .oscillation of the former with a snap action upon Areciprocation of the latter and means engageable with said spring to distort the longitudinal-axis thereof prior to .eachuoperation ofsaid contactor.

7. In an electric switch, in combination a trame, a contactor oscillatably mounted `.on said frame, an operating member l:for Hsaid contactor slidablymounted on said frame, a-

helical-spri-ng connecting-l said 'contactor and operating member for effecting .oscillation of the former Vupon reciprocation ofzthe'latter and a member carried luy-.said frame and having a part projecting into the 'path `of,

said spring for distortion of the longitudinal axis of said spring during a critical movement of said actuating member.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, co-operating contacts including a contactor to be oscillated, a U-shaped frame in which said contacter is oscillatably mounted for limitation of its oscillatory movement by the vend portions of said frame, an operating member for said contactor slidingly mounted on said frame a helical tension spring connecting said contactor and operating member and a member supported by and between the end portions of said frame and having a part projecting into the path of said spring 15 to be engaged thereby for distorting of its longitudinal axis during a critical movement of said operating member.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE J. MEUER, 

